| The Village Choristers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Edward Bird |
| Year | 1810 |
| Type | Oil on panel, genre painting |
| Dimensions | 63.1 cm× 92.8 cm(24.8 in× 36.5 in) |
| Location | Royal Collection |
The Village Choristers is an oil on panel genre painting by the English artist Edward Bird, from 1810. [1] It depicts the choir of an English village rehearsing hymns for the Sunday service. Inspired by the genre works on the Dutch Old Masters, Bird portrays them in the village tavern. It is also known as The Country Choristers. [2]
The painting was purchased for 250 guineas by George, Prince of Wales after seeing it at the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition of 1810. He made the acquisition on the advice of the President of the Royal Academy, Benjamin West, then commissioned the Scottish painter David Wilkie to produce a companion piece, Blind-Man's Buff , to accompany it at his residence in Carlton House. [3]